Conservation-tillage conference set Jan. 13-14

Producers wanting to find new ways to produce more at less cost will want to mark their calendars to attend the 8th annual Conservation-Tillage Cotton and Rice Conference.

The event will be held Jan. 13-14 at the Park Plaza Reliant Center, Houston, Texas.

“For farmers looking for ways to trim input costs and increase yields in order to survive economically, this conference is a must-attend,” says John LaRose, publisher of MidAmerica Farm Publications, which sponsors the conference, along with partners Cotton Incorporated and the U.S. Rice Producers Association.

“The main emphasis of the conference reducing production costs and increasing yields for cotton, rice, corn, and soybeans,” he says. It will also focus on precision agriculture systems and practices.

“There's no better way to learn more about new techniques and systems related to tillage, fertility, pesticides, herbicides, and planting costs,” LaRose says.

The term “conservation-tillage” initially referred to a tillage practice that conserved soil while reducing the potential for wind/water erosion, he notes. “But farmers quickly found that they could also cut fuel, labor, and other input costs.”

The conference will feature 12 rooms where 50 to 75 people can gather for break-out sessions. “It's very producer-friendly,” LaRose says. “Presentations will be given in a paired format, with each repeated two or three times.

Along with researchers who will discuss large scale trials that address a variety of conservation-tillage practices and problems, producer/farmers will also share their “how to make it work” experiences.